Tips for Maintaining Hydraulic Equipment San Diego CA

Following these simple tips can help you keep your hydraulic equipment San Diego CA running better longer

We all know that hydraulic equipment San Diego CA requires regular maintenance in order to perform well. What you may not realize is that today’s hydraulic systems are more powerful and more precise than ever. Smaller reservoirs, higher system pressures, increased operating temperatures, and computerized controls provide improved efficiency but also leave a much smaller margin of error when it comes to maintaining proper performance and avoiding damage to the system. So if you’ve just gotten a new piece of hydraulic equipment, you may need to adjust your old maintenance routine to suit the new equipment. Here are some tips to help you do that.

Get Proactive

Typically, oil analysis should be done every three months. However, if you are proactive, you can analyze the oil more often than this and get ahead of any negative trends in viscosity, water content, particle count, and dissolved metals before they have a chance to damage your equipment. You could also perform the recommended annual system inspections more frequently to identify leaks and component wear sooner.

Use High-Performance Fluids

Choosing the right fluid is very important when dealing with new hydraulic equipment San Diego CA. Precision parts like servo and proportional valves are extremely sensitive and can easily fail if exposed to contaminated or degraded fluid. A good rule of thumb is to use fluid that can handle the worst case scenario in terms of your expected equipment operating conditions—in other words, make sure the fluid can handle the maximum pressure and temperature your equipment can produce. The fluid should also be oxidatively and thermally stable, possess excellent air-release properties, and be compatible with your seals.

Clean the System Regularly

Because today’s hydraulic reservoirs tend to be smaller, they provide less time and opportunity for contaminants to cycle out of the reservoir during operation. This means that you need to keep a careful eye out for air and particulate contamination of your hydraulic fluids. Clean or replace the hydraulic filters regularly, and make sure that any rebreathers are working properly. You should also take care to avoid introducing contamination during fluid exchanges by using clean, sealed transfer equipment.

Keep Records

Keeping detailed records of your fluid changes, oil analysis, filter replacement, and visual inspections will help you keep track of changes in your hydraulic equipment San Diego CA. You can use these changes to identify trends that may be a sign of a larger problem.